Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham Sailing Club
by Sandy Ramus 19 Sep 2023 15:30 BST
17 September 2023
100 Optimists spread across the regatta fleet and main fleet arrived ready for a 4 race series making their way out in a blustery breeze gusting 23 knots in the harbour. Due to the easterly direction the main fleet course was set in the Gallon Reach so wasn't too far from base camp. Wind over tide made for a lively sail to the start with the young sailors testing the skills in the steep seas.
Race 1 got away on the second attempt and the fleet fought their way upwind. As they were arriving at the windward the sky darkened and it suddenly felt very unlike the end of summer. There were the odd flashes of lightning and the rumbles and the heavy rain started falling. In the race team on the committee boat we realised this was terminal for this race and it was swiftly abandoned and the sailors headed straight home where the tea hut became very popular!
With the weather system from the south west and the easterly wind the rain and thunderstorm hung about for a bit but as it seemed to ease off the committee boat went out to see what it looked like on the race track. As time ticked on it was looking unlikely but with a bit of faith in the weather tracker the main fleet were called to launch.
Not easy for the young sailors and parents to turn it around and get back out there when all was looking like it was over for the day so full credit for getting going again so swiftly.
Race 1 was a more comfortable 10 knots and with the tide starting to run with the wind the fleet split with some trying to get out of the tide but having less wind and others staying more central in the stronger breeze. The race was won convincingly by Finley Browne who had build a substantial lead by the windward mark and was never challenged. Nia Byrne followed in second, then Patrick de Salle with Pippa Shepherd forth.
Race 2 started with sun starting to peak through the clouds and everyone started to dry out... this is more like it! If only we had longer to do more races we all thought.
After two laps of the windward leeward course and a few position changes the winner was Finn Ramus who sailed a stunning second windward leg from Pippa Shepherd (2nd), Wilbur Ward (3rd) and Tom Keegan (4th).
Unfortunately we did have to finish it there but it was great to end on a high note after a challenging day for all involved.
Xtremity kindly supported the event with some fantastic prizes and we are hugely grateful for that.
It was fantastic for Pippa Shepherd, a Bosham Sailing Club member, to receive the 1st place trophy and first Bosham boat trophy after a consistent 4,2 scoreline. Well done Pippa.
Main Fleet Results:
Pos | Boat name | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | Pts |
1st | | 6444 | Pippa Shepherd | 4 | 2 | 6 |
2nd | | 6230 | Finley Browne | 1 | 8 | 9 |
3rd | | 6298 | Thomas Knight | 5 | 7 | 12 |
4th | Lemody 2 | 6610 | Nia Byrne | 2 | 11 | 13 |
5th | | 6546 | Wilbur Ward | 11 | 3 | 14 |
6th | | 6553 | Finn Ramus | 15 | 1 | 16 |
7th | GBR 6621 | 6621 | Hector Davies | 7 | 14 | 21 |
8th | GBR 6451 | 6451 | Charlie Holland | 17 | 5 | 22 |
9th | Smile and wave | 6631 | Alex Saunders | 14 | 10 | 24 |
10th | Portuguese man o war | 6316 | Patrick Salle | 3 | 22 | 25 |
11th | | 6349 | Felix Garlick | 6 | 19 | 25 |
12th | | 6472 | William Shaw | 13 | 12 | 25 |
13th | | 6644 | Tom Keegan | 24 | 4 | 28 |
14th | | 6270 | Harry Ramshaw | 23 | 6 | 29 |
15th | Pole Position | 6508 | Sean Salle | 12 | 18 | 30 |
16th | Oppie | 6515 | Rupert Garlick | 9 | 24 | 33 |
17th | Grizzly | 6404 | Edward Taylor | 8 | 26 | 34 |
18th | Avenger | 6529 | Henry Cruse | 18 | 16 | 34 |
19th | Finns boat | 6574 | Finn Byrne | 21 | 15 | 36 |
20th | TNT | 5461 | Wilbur Haye | 10 | 29 | 39 |
21st | Rocktimist | 6190 / 6617 | Felix Gladman | 26 | 17 | 43 |
22nd | Whirlwind | 6368 | Merryn Wealthy | 25 | 23 | 48 |
23rd | Jammy Dodger | 5990 | Rufus Haye | 19 | 31 | 50 |
24th | Flipper | 6439 | Jack Ward | 42 | 9 | 51 |
25th | NA | 6394 | Josie Clark | 16 | 39 | 55 |
26th | | 6418 | Tristan Shaw | 35 | 20 | 55 |
27th | | 6523 | William Fuller | 29 | 28 | 57 |
28th | Sync | 6424 | Beth Llewellyn | 20 | 42 | 62 |
29th | | 6446 | Samuel Machell | 37 | 25 | 62 |
30th | Hot Stuff | RSA 1281 | Iain Coward | 50 | 13 | 63 |
31st | Optimistic | 6494 | Zoe Green | 43 | 21 | 64 |
32nd | Optical Illusion | 6520 | Edward Judson | 30 | 34 | 64 |
33rd | | 6449 | Harry Whelan | 22 | 43 | 65 |
34th | Still Wazzing | 6576 | Arthur Pattison | 33 | 32 | 65 |
35th | Sundowner | 6512 | Darcy Donnell | 32 | 33 | 65 |
36th | | 6646 | Max Ellis‑Asquith | 41 | 30 | 71 |
37th | Dodger | 6246 | Oscar Stephens | 31 | 40 | 71 |
38th | Sea Shocker | 5813 | Felix Ward | 28 | 44 | 72 |
39th | Waterrat | 6271 | Theodore Fox | 39 | 35 | 74 |
40th | Viper | 5665 | Finn Kameen | 27 | 48 | 75 |
41st | Dash | 5664 | Sam Taylor | 49 | 27 | 76 |
42nd | Watermelon | 6484 | Isabella Deas | 38 | 38 | 76 |
43rd | Emily Franklin | 6416 | Emily Franklin | 36 | 41 | 77 |
44th | | 6381 | Carwyn Parry | 44 | 36 | 80 |
45th | Prime mover | 624 | Eva Brindley | 34 | 51 | 85 |
46th | Speedy carrot 2 | 6415 | Robbie Judson | 51 | 37 | 88 |
47th | | 6643 | Finnian Keegan | 45 | 46 | 91 |
48th | Zigzag | 6234 | Maddy White | 40 | 52 | 92 |
49th | | 6552 | Amelia Briwne | 48 | 45 | 93 |
50th | Great Wight | 4581 | Robby Mayo | 46 | 49 | 95 |
51st | Water Lord | 6532 | Luke Moore | 52 | 47 | 99 |
52nd | Powder monkey | 5957 | Ella Kane | 53 | 50 | 103 |
53rd | Woody | 6296 | Jack Curtis | 47 | DNC | 113 |
54th | Dave | 6231 | EWAN HAMILTON | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 6514 | Kate Charlesworth | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 6596 | Lucy Whorton | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 5693 | Max Murphy | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | | Eloise McCarthy | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | Imp | 5498 | Huxley Lock | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | Double Trouble (Colgate) | 5963 | Safia Colgate | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 5774 | Jake Petevinos | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 6615 | Meri Greenaway | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | Boppy | 5096 | Isabelle Simpson | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | | 6306 | George McCormick | DNC | DNC | 132 |
54th | Skywalker | 5512 | Flynn Grant | DNC | DNC | 132 |